Women board members in Florida reach 20 percent mark

Florida's major public and private companies added three women to their boards this year, for a total of 53 women board members compared with 50 a year ago, according to a report by 2020 Women on Boards.

That's 20 percent of companies in the state with women on their boards, up from 18.7 percent in 2015, according to 2020 Women on Boards, a national organization that has been advocating for at least 20 percent representation by women on corporate boards by the year 2020.

"We're pleased to see that Florida companies surveyed consider gender diversity of their boards a priority, making Florida one of the leading states on the index," said Maureen Shea, CEO of Right Management for Florida and the Caribbean. Shea also is program chair for Women Executive Leadership, a South Florida advocate organization for more women on company boards.

Fort Lauderdale-based AutoNation was the only South Florida company to add a second woman director in 2016. Karen Francis, executive chairman of technology marketing company AcademixDirect, was appointed in February.

"We want people who make our company better, and a diverse board is the only way to make our company better," said Marc Cannon, chief marketing officer for AutoNation.

Still, there wasn't progress on additional companies adding women to their boards. There are 27 companies with women on their boards, the same as a year ago.

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Nationally, women now hold 19.7 percent of board seats, which places 2020 Women on Boards in reach of its 20 percent goal. That's up from 14.6 percent in 2011, the first year of reporting.

To highlight the results, Women Executive Leadership will conduct program from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Signature Grand, 6900 State Road 84 in Davie. The program is part of the fifth annual "National Conversation on Board Diversity."

Panelists scheduled are: Wendy Beck, chief financial officer of Norwegian Cruise Line in Miami; Anita Britt, chief financial officer of Perry Ellis International in Miami; Karen Gilmore, vice president and regional executive, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Miami Branch; Laurie Levine, vice president of business and finance, Lynn University in Boca Raton; and Pat McKay, partner and managing director of Templeton and Co. in Fort Lauderdale.

South Florida companies with women making up 20 percent or more of their board are: AutoNation in Fort Lauderdale, with two, or 20 percent; BankUnited in Miami Lakes with three, or 30 percent; Carnival Corp. in Miami, with three, or 30 percent; Dycom Industries in Palm Beach Gardens, with two, or 22 percent; The Geo Group in Boca Raton, with two, or 33 percent; Flanigan's Enterprises in Fort Lauderdale, with two, or 22 percent; Hollywood Media Corp. in Boca Raton, with one, or 20 percent; NextEra Energy in Juno Beach, with three, or 23 percent; Ocwen Financial in West Palm Beach, with two, or 25 percent; Office Depot in Boca Raton, with two, or 25 percent; Perry Ellis International in Miami, with two, or 25 percent; Ryder System in Miami, with three, or 27 percent; Spirit Airlines in Miramar, with two, or 22 percent.

Tickets for the Women Executive Leadership event cost $80 for members and $95 for nonmembers. For more information, contact Christine Yeager at christine.yeager@right.com or 954-334-2600.